Petersburg, Florida, is rich with family history and entrepreneurial savvy. The company has been family-owned and operated since 1953, a time commonly marked by the hay days of the great American automobile such as the Oldsmobile, where our story begins. Bert Smith Jr., son of a Pennsylvania Railroad executive (and son-in-law to a former Vice President of General Motors), first opened the doors to
Bert Smith Olds in what was then the center of town, near historic Sunken Gardens. As the city and business rapidly grew, Bert took a bold step and in 1958, moved the dealership 3 miles west to a 14-acre site located at the end of a dirt road and bordered by a cow pasture. While his peers thought him crazy, Bert proved to be visionary. The dealership became one of the first to be located on what is now U.S. Hwy. 19, a major thoroughfare serving the Tampa Bay Area, the 19th largest metro area in the United States. During the 1960s and 1970s, Bert Smith Olds remained one of the highest volume Oldsmobile dealers in the country. As global competition increased over the decades, Bert made another prophetic decision and acquired several import franchises. In 1991, Bert Smith became one of the area's first "automotive superstores," housing multiple new car manufacturers under one roof, a very large one at that. Along with a large selection of certified pre-owned vehicles, we are proud to offer BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche and Subaru. For over 50 years, the cornerstone of our success in the Tampa Bay Area remains in our commitment to customer satisfaction. Today the dealership is owned and operated by Bert Smith III who propagates the same business acumen across another generation. From sales and service to after-market parts and certified body work, the legacy is engrained in every aspect of our products, services and professional staff.
